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Wolff says A's will extend Coliseum lease

Wolff says A's will extend Coliseum lease

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The Giants began playing home games at AT&T Park in 2000, after 40 seasons at Candlestick Park.

By Paul Hagen
/
MLB.com |

Owner Lew Wolff said Monday that the A's will extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum and "look forward to another great season" in response to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle that the team might share AT&T Park with the rival Giants next season if terms of a new deal cannot be reached.

The team is seeking a two-year lease while its efforts to land a new stadium deal in San Jose continue, while officials from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority are said to be seeking a five- to eight-year agreement, according to the Chronicle report. Also at issue is how revenue from food and beverage concessions would be divided between the A's and the Coliseum Authority.

The Giants, who have claimed San Jose as their territory and oppose an Athletics move there, would have to agree to the arrangement. While MLB and the Giants declined to comment, the Chronicle speculated that there are two reasons why the Giants might go along with such a plan. One is the rental income the team would receive. The other is the possibility that it would be a prelude to the A's relocating outside the Bay Area, leaving the market to the Giants.

There are still many details that would have to be worked out if the A's were to play in San Francisco. For example, the two teams have nine common home dates scheduled in 2014.

The Chronicle quoted two anonymous sources suggesting that the development could be a spur to negotiations between the A's and Oakland that have been ongoing for two years.

Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.